TOKYO (Reuters) - The percentage of Japanese households expecting prices to accelerate fell in March from three months ago, a central bank survey showed on Thursday, underscoring the difficulty of eradicating the country's sticky deflationary mindset.
The Bank of Japan's survey on people's livelihood showed the percentage of households who expect prices to rise a year from now was 73.9 percent in March, down from 75.6 percent in December.
Among the surveyed households, 81.0 percent said they expect inflation to pick up five years from now, down from 81.9 percent in December.
The survey is among the key data the BOJ scrutinizes in assessing the impact of its ultra-easy monetary policy.